20 Comments
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Bill Southern's avatar

Quite profound, Cindy. Grief is not “one size fits all.”

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thanks, Bill. No, it's not, although sometimes it feels like some people think it should be.

Lucy Murray's avatar

Grief is personal. Nobody can tell us what it should look like, how to endure it, or suggest how to get through it. There are no experts. Thank you for your words, Cindy.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you for reading them, Lucy. I appreciate your company in this. xo

Laura L. Engel's avatar

I love your words, Cindy. Nest Monday is the anniversary of my oldest son's suicide, but it is also the birthday of my beloved stepson. Grief has never left me for the last four years, but I am able to set it aside when I need to and show up for my other 5 children and our grandchildren. There is much joy in my life, and I cherish it and open my arms wide to receive it, but still that broken heart lives within me.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you for your words, Laura, and I appreciate your understanding of what I was trying to say. I'm so sorry for your loss, I know anniversaries hit hard. Sending love. xo

Esther Stanway-Williams's avatar

I’m 100% with you on this. Our grief is our loss is our person is our life…and so on! All mingled and intertwined and as individual as we are. Some days we not only feel healed, we ARE healed, and show up as such. Other days we’re hurting because we’re STILL GRIEVING…and that’s allowed too. Trying to rationalize the hugely complex nature of profound loss is a fool’s game. A great post, thank you Cindy 🙏❤️

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you, Esther. I appreciate your own perceptions of how we grieve. And sharing them here! xo

Chloe Langer's avatar

Dearest Cindy, once again you've shared a piece that has me holding my breath as I read it.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you, Chloe. You're so generous with your own heart and I am grateful for it. xo

Nancy Gittleman's avatar

Agreed, grief is so personal. You’re dealt with so much, in such a short amount of time and have more experience on the topic than most. If anyone is an expert on the topic its you.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Like the club I didn't want to be a member of, it's a topic I don't want to be an expert on. But I feel like if I am comfortable sharing my own experience, it might be helpful to others. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. xo

Deborah Way's avatar

1,000,000 %

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thanks, Deborah. xo

Judith Bucher's avatar

Amen! So well expressed, grief is individual

Cindy Eastman's avatar

SO individual. I don't know how anyone can state otherwise. xo

Gabi Coatsworth's avatar

Grief is different for everyone. Some is nearer the surface, some buried deeper, but it's all grief...

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Right...it's felt, described, demonstrated and expressed in a billion different ways. Thanks, Gabi. xo

Amy Abbott's avatar

I think it is hard to comprehend what another person's grief is like. We are all different and had different relationships with the person who is gone. Peace to all in walking her own path.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Definitely. It's a complex experience, both for the grievers and the people trying to support them. xo